By Koh Lay Chin

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - The T-shirts, made and worn by Americans currently living in the country, were gripped proudly by their wearers and admired by Malaysians during an election-watch organised by the US embassy here.

It was the worst kept secret as to who most of those who attended supported, with Malaysians and their foreign friends loudly cheering and clapping jubilantly every time a result came in from a US state where Obama had won. When it was finally clear he was victorious, the hall erupted into a delighted frenzy.

The packed hall at Renaissance Hotel was decked out in blue, red and white, with a festive feel to the occasion, courtesy of balloons, banners, colourful hats and even life-size cut-outs of both Obama and Republican candidate John McCain.

A huge screen and two television viewing areas were set up to provide minute-by-minute results and guests, who had arrived since the morning, even took part in a mock election to "vote" for either Obama or McCain.
Jake Izenberg, one of the Americans wearing the T-shirt, was ecstatic about the win, and said Obama would be a leader that the world could look up to again.

"I have been absolutely disgusted, frankly, with the Bush administration and I'm really excited to see a change," said the Fulbright scholar now studying at Universiti Malaya.

Retired associate professor John Doraisamy, 78, expressed his immense happiness that Obama had won.

"I think millions of people will expect the new president to bring about a radical change in US foreign policy, such as a genuine peace in the Middle East and stability for the Palestinian homeland," he said.

US Ambassador to Malaysia James Keith said Obama's victory represented Americans' longing for change.